By Monica Garcia-Silva
BIRMINGHAM, AL - The University of La Verne's baseball team traveled to Birmingham, Alabama, after being selected for an at-large bid to the 2023 NCAA Championship by the NCAA Selection Committee.
Seated second in a four-team pool, their first opponent was Franklin College on the home field of Birmingham Southern College. The Leopards fought their way to a first-round win when they overcame a 5-0 deficit to beat the Grizzlies and to continue their run in the NCAA tournament, winning 8-7.
La Verne started off slow after giving up five runs early to Franklin College through the top of the third inning. The Leopards found their spark soon through Cameron Slessor who doubled to right field put two runs on the board and earning 2 RBIs. Chase Siffort added another run to the inning after scoring on a wild pitch. The Grizzlies extended their lead to 7-3 until the Leopards took over in the 7th and never looked back.
Slessor earned two more RBIs, bringing Ryan Vosika and Matthew Diaz across home plate to start the Leopard's rally. Malachi Francois homered in the eighth inning and closed the gap to one run, before freshman Ryan Vosika had a clutch sac bunt to tie the game, 7-7.
Anthony Salcedo secured the final run with a left center RBI that scored Benny Vogel, and the Leopards won 8-7.
The Leopards will continue their NCAA bid against Lewis and Clark University in Birmingham,Alabama, Saturday, May 20th, at 12:30 pm PST.
(photo by Joseph Ceniceros)
